Go Away Corona, Go Away

Most people are bemoaning being quarantined or basically stuck on stay at home orders right now.

I wish I was.

Both my jobs are essential and I'm thrilled about that. I still am getting regular paychecks, so that is definitely something to be happy about. However the people that are out and about are cranky and some are downright mean.

Grocery shopping and every day life is just way too stressful. My hours at the PT gig are making it so I don't go to Aldi for my groceries and that means less meat in the house because Giant Eagle is way too pricey when it comes to that stuff. Oh and so much of the stuff I'm making right now is processed crap..however that crap is kinda tasty.

Seriously if you never bought the Kraft Zest Italian Spaghetti box...do it. You make a sauce. (Don't go by the instructions..you want to use 1 can tomato paste, diced tomatoes and then a can of water) But the seasoning packet is amazing..and if you have Italian diced tomatoes..you've got a great chunky marinara sauce..and its a dinner that feeds 3 adults for only a couple of bucks.

You can almost never get paper products. Finding pasta and sauce and simple stuff like Knorrs rice or pasta sides? Not going to happen.

I work M-F 8 hours and a lot of nights and some weekends at my PT gig. It makes doing shopping damn hard.

Oh and parking is a premium on my block, so when I come home late...who knows where my car will land.

I know I'm whining but I'm just tired..and I've had it..and I'm sick of everything right now.

And The Stress Continues

If you follow me on Facebook you'll know, my oven had a small fire last night. Something must have  dripped from a pot and got stuck to the burner and when my nephew went to boil water for the plumbing issue I have, bam! FLAMES!

It took a minute for our brains to say, COVER IT!

Thankfully it didn't damage the range, cos I seriously don't need that expense right now.

Also, next range..I think I'm getting the flat top, since I can't have a gas range.

The retail gig is getting super stressful, because NO ONE IS FUCKING SOCIAL DISTANCING!

Seriously people need to care about people other than their damned selves. I understand contractors need to be out. Building can still happen. Things break! I get that.

You do not need to paint your house or complete your fucking HONEY DO list while the Corona Virus is out there.

And leave grandma and the kids at home, if you come out.

Do you not love them?

I mean there is no rhyme or reason to some of the people that are getting really sick.

I don't want to get it, m'kay?             

Why can't people just listen? 

Pain...I has it

I hate having 2 nights off from job 2 in a row.

Why?

That gives my feet time to feel like they can stop hurting. Or rather my one foot that hates the concrete floors at my store.

2 days off and I'm pain free, until I step inside.

Then....

ARGH!!

And there's really no shoe that makes it feel better, especially when you are standing in one spot all dang day..or half a day or whatever.

I Need To Spend Some Quality Time With My House

I am exhausted.

Last week I tried to get some things done to declutter my living space. I only got half of it done.

Between the stuff going on with my porch and the roof..and working two jobs..and not having a real day off until this coming Sunday...I am ready to crack.

Hell, I still haven't had a chance to go to the laundromat. This is the longest I've gone when it comes to that in ages.

I am just so sick of everything right now.

Also I think I need a maid and a laundry service.


Sigh

Plans Going Awry

Every time I think I am going to go somewhere with my camera, something goes wrong.

I thought I'd get to Phipps this weekend.

Nope!

At least I don't think so.

Its commencement weekend at CMU, which is basically where Phipps Conservatory is located.

All I want to do is take some pretty pictures of flowers? Or something?

Why is it when I think I might get a chance at using my camera, things get all screwed up?

Grrrr

I'm Mad As Hell

I have always have a dysfunctional family. I don't mean that in a bad way, really, I just mean we all have messed up lives.

My mother did her best to hold us together and I became head chef of our little household when she couldn't.

I'm still head chef of the "Guy" family.

I've been working 2 jobs since Christmas. Its not fun, though I like most of the people I work with at job 2.

I'm tired all the time and I'm trying to keep up with as much as I can.

No one in my house does much to help.

I ask one to run the sweeper in their room, because one cat likes to leave crime scene fur marks on the carpet..does he do it?

Will he dust his room?

HELL NO.

I feed him. I get his allergy meds...etc...and he lives in my HOUSE. He is not my child.

He helps clean up after the animals...garbage and puts dishes away.

Anything else, is like pulling teeth.

Then there's my sister, who got herself into a SITUATION.

I feed her every night. Heck, I make sure there's peanut butter at least, in case she needs lunch. She's working 2 jobs until Sunday, when her better paying job starts.

Its only been 5 months since mom has been gone.  I don't want to alienate family, but I'm not anyone's mother, or caretaker.

I don't mind feeding people, when I have to cook.

I just wish cups weren't left on my counters that are dirty or on other furniture....or if just once someone would freaking do a dish besides me. Working 12.5 hours at least 4 days a week is not fun and yes, I'm complaining but only because NO ONE IS HELPING ME with some little things.

The World Is Too Connected

I'm pretty sure when current events and lifestyles become a part of history, it will say that we were too connected, but not connected enough.

We have social media that allows us to see things from all over the world in real time. We can spread our views in seconds.

We can share the good and the bad and the downright awful.

We can share knowledge and stupidity at record speeds.

We show the world our best and ultimately our worst.

Social media causes depression, because well...the grass is always greener and when we see those greener pastures everyday and our pastures look a bit brown, well, it isn't all that fun.

It allows for bullying 24/7....or in the case of our current POS POTUS at least at 3 am.

And while we're at it, so much of everything has to be about making money. Now don't get me wrong, I still dream of the day one of my cats finally goes viral and gets fame and fortune, so that they can buy their own kibble.

But god when your blog is so bogged down with ads that you can't find the content it becomes maddening.

Case in point the food blog where I found this recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

INGREDIENTS

MUFFIN:

• 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin (pure pumpkin puree)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

CREAM CHEESE SWIRL:

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cups into muffin pan. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside.
3. In large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar.
4. Beat in eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk in the flour mixture, until there are no lumps. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
5. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
6. Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter. This will not look smooth, but it will bake up much prettier. (You can see exactly how I did this in the video above.)
7. Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. I liked these best at room temperature or even slightly chilled! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Time's Been Getting Away From Me

It's been 2 weeks since I blogged last. Yikes!

With all the stuff going on with my mom and her Doctor I've been more than a bit aggravated.

Last week, I spent 4 days back and forth trying to get her insulin prescription filled, which is absolutely nuts. It took about 8 cancelled scripts before they got it correct.

That doesn't speak well for that office. However I at least know that when all is said and done. I'm not the crazy one and neither is the pharmacy.

Oye vey.

This week isn't much better, but I'm hanging in there.

I started a book last week. Right there that should tell you there is something wrong. Its a 371 page book. That's something that may take me a few days to read.

I'm still not finished.

Its a spoof on gothic novels with a touch of romance, vampires and time travel.  Its well written, but for some reason for me, it is dragging. Really really dragging.

There's nothing worse than being bogged down by a book that you aren't sure you like, but you've invested so much time in that you have to finish it.

 Seriously, this book has drained my kindle battery so much it is nuts.

Thank god for paper books because I've had to put that one down so many times.

head desk

My Car Hates Me

So I was leaving work on Monday, and I walked around the back of my car. Not a normal thing for me to do, but for some reason I did.

My muffler is kinda just hanging there.

This does not thrill me, as my 2006 Focus has some pricey exhaust parts.

I zoom to the bank for my boss and over to Mr. Tire so they can have a look at it.

Well, said muffler was split in half.  Uh thank you Monessen and the wonderful freaky construction on Donner Ave.

The part costs a whopping $298.00 and there's labor included. Please kill me.

This is not what I need right now. I still have about $1500 to pay off on Mokey's hospital stays in Dec and Feb and I need to get the little guy his shots and a urinalysis to see how the prescription food is working. My regular credit card has more on it than I've had on them in years.

I seriously need to fall into some money pretty soon, though I don't know how that's going to happen. I hate debt. I dug myself out of it once and I hate having to do it again.

Also, because I need to bitch, I really wanted to get a new dining room table set this year, but thanks to all this crap, that isn't happening.

I Need To Stay Off Facebook

There was a photo on a group page that I follow that showed children on crosses, blaming certain groups for abuses caused to them. The last photo showed a child on a Ronald McDonald cross, blaming fast food for childhood obesity.

So yeah, the anger in me grew and I had to comment. (And I found that stupidity lurks on both sides of the political spectrum)

Shall we blame restaurants for our kids being fat, while not placing any blame on computers, video games and phones that keep our kids on their butts, instead of out doing stuff.

I grew up when McDonald's had all the characters and the cool Happy Meal toys. I also grew up in the sugary cereal era. YUM.

I played outside. I was inside with Barbie's and my books.

My parents knew better than to feed us McDonald's on a daily basis, no matter how much I wanted the happy meal toy, or the cool glass, or whatever.

To blame a company for childhood obesity is insane. Its there business to get people in their restaurants to eat.

I don't recall seeing a Happy Meal commercial any time soon. Hell, I don't remember seeing a cereal commercial for anything tasty or even a toy commercial in ages on tv?

McDonald's doesn't grab your kid and pull them in and force the food down their throat. It is the parent's decision to take them there.

So if your kid if obese, do something about it, but don't place blame.

Scared Of The News

I know I can't be the only one that is totally nauseated by the current administration here in the US. It seems like every day something awful is coming out of Disneyland on the Potomac.

I understand everyone wants jobs.

Jobs are important.

I don't think there is a single person that would disagree with that.

But at what expense?

As we make corporations more powerful, the workers lose there rights.

We bust unions, and yes, the unions have been corrupt, but they have also done good as well.

Do we want to go back in time?

Granted if you really understand history, it has happened.

There was a time period called The Dark Ages...perhaps we are headed for another one of those.

Oh and if there is no planet left, because we've destroyed this one with pollution all for the almighty dollar, what then?

When you are dead, all the wealth in the world isn't going to help you.

Whine Whine Wine?

I am not a happy human.

3 reasons:

Keith Harkin Pittsburgh March 17
Elvis Costello Pittsburgh June 13
The Moody Blues Northfield Ohio Rocksino July 2

Can't go to any of them.

No money

No mom sitter

Can't go to the opening of the new Cider place at Trax Farms this month either.

Can't buy my new bed..

Why?

Got a cavity....that's going to cost a couple hundred to fill..plus I just went for a cleaning.

So much for that nice refund I got this year.

All I got were new curtains for the house.

And yes, my friends, I do want some cheese with my WHINE

Death By Reassessment

The county that I live in just reassessed our property values.

The world is coming to an end.

They assessed my new home at $20,000.00 more than it was appraised at last year when I bought it. I'm scared to death of what the new taxes are and how much its going to cost to appeal.

I'm probably going to have to get a second job somewhere and start eating ramen noodles on a daily basis.

It doesn't help matters that I lost $70 from my review job that folded this year and I never got paid for my final reviews.

Every little bit counts.

I give up.

Plus I can understand people living on netflix and hulu, because I'd do anything to get away from political ads.

I swear to god, all the candidates suck..presidential and otherwise. (sorry Bernie, I do loves ya) I can't even get away from Trump and the NRA's nasty ad on Antenna TV, which is the only channel I can stomach watching these days.

Are You Entitled?

Yes, I'm back to politics again.

Entitlements is a word that comes up a lot.

Its funny, but we do live in a society that feels like it is entitled to certain things.

I do believe that people are entitled to certain things, food, CLEAN WATER (I'm looking at you Flint, Michigan) and yes, health care oh and since those of us that work paid into it...our Social Security. That's not an entitlement though, we paid into it, we should get it. If they want to take it away, every citizen that works should get EVERY CENT we put into it back. I also lean towards the belief that people are entitled to an education and that education should not put the person in debt until they are ready to retire, but hey that's me.

But we are also changing as a society. We now think that everyone should have a smart phone, even when you can't afford one or the service that goes along with it. We feel we are entitled to vacations, and by that I mean traveling someplace, not just a few days off in the year. (After said vacation, the people will then bitch about not having enough money to pay their bills)

Most of us work hard for checks and we live paycheck to paycheck, but that doesn't mean that we deserve to go somewhere when you can't afford to or have something we can't afford in the long run.

We have so much now, but we've lost a lot of our sense of responsibility. Its too much gimmie gimmie gimmie, and that starts with children too.

I understand wanting something better for your children and your children's children, but there's a time when everyone needs to put on their big girl/boy pants and own up to their own situations.

I screwed up financially when I was younger. Big time. It took about 7 years to dig my way out of it. I learned the hard way. I had to say no to myself, and let's face it, yourself is the hardest person to say no to sometimes.

And on that note...and this totally disjointed post...there is very little we are really entitled to, without working for it, or trying to work for it.

Will Things Ever Go Right?

My tale of woe for the week.

There is one plus...all the plumbing issues are taken care of now. We have a shiny new water heater, there is a Pittsburgh toilet in the basement, and other minor issues have been fixed. Yay! All for about $1000. So can't complain there.


But back to the woe...cos that's more fun.

1. House has some fun (ha ha ha) electrical issues. Outlets and fixtures that don't work for no reason...and yeah. that's going to be fun to fix.

2. My car is lighting up like a Christmas tree, with useless lights. The airbag light is still on. But wait, now the door light is on, when ever door and the trunk are shut tight. Seriously? WTF! I have a ghetto car!

3. Some people think its fun to have a 5 day vacation and then come home and have a party. In the last 2 years, I've not gone anywhere. I have not gone further than 30 miles from my home, and that was either to Washington, PA or to Upper Saint Clair when I met one of my favorite authors. I've not been to Wheeling in about 5 years..and the same for Pittsburgh, but no one can give me a break, and yet I cook for their sorry asses? I think I'm done with them all.


Rant and Woe ended, go in peace.

The Stupidest Ad Ever

Gateway Hospice has a billboard campaign that really really pisses me off.

It says "Embracing Life" and shows two smiling old people.

Pardon me if I want to beat the living crap out of the person who came up with this ad.

If you are on hospice, your life is ending, and for the most part,  you can't embrace it. You can only hang on to it for every second that you can.

My father was very lucky that in his year on hospice that he had time to enjoy what time he had left. Most do not. Most are cancer patients in great pain.

"Embracing life" my buttocks!

Everyone that knows me, knows I have very mixed feelings about hospice care. I think we were very lucky that my dad had great nurses and aids from Amedysis, that really liked him and were kind, and to them, I still give my heartfelt thanks, because dad could be very pig headed, especially in his last months when his illnesses gave him dementia. (He could be pig headed even before his illness, but that's why we loved him)

If I had to do it over again, I'm not sure I would have let my mother agree to it. I would have fought her tooth and nail not to.

But back to the ad.

I know that you don't want to reflect sadness and death in an ad, but I just think showing smiling seniors with one of their adult family members/child/etc is just  stupid.

Addiction

It ain't just about drugs and alcohol.

I have to admit, I have a problem. It involves a red can.

Coke is my drug of choice...Coca-Cola, that is.

I've been doing my best to not drink it, and I've gone 25 days so far.

Cold turkey isn't easy, and when there's Coke in the house....ARGH!

I love Pop! I always have. These 25 days have all but killed me. I've been drinking lots of juice, water, tea, and milk, but it really doesn't stop me from being thirsty. Coke was the only thing that did.

~sigh~

Oh and hot coffee makes my allergies worse...I drink it when the pollen counts are high, and I swear the hairball in the back of my throat gets bigger!

Grrr.

Oh and to add insult to injury, do you think I'd lose any weight cutting out the soda?

Hell freaking no!

A Whole Lot Of Crazy

Dad wasn't feeling well last night so my after work relaxation was cut short. Thank god it was Cinco De Mayo, though. That helped take the edge off the week (that has only just begun...ARGH!)

Yay for Arbor Mist Sangria!

A bigger yay for my Mexican Lasagna recipe, which was awesome. Check out the recipe here.

Oh and after dad's not feeling good, he woke up around 2 a.m. and started fussing, so needless to say, no one really slept well last night.

Always fun at our house these days.

I'm trying to figure out how to request a vacation from my life, because I need one.

Oh and anyone want to help me bitch about gas prices in PA. If it weren't for Giant Eagle and KMart and the discounts on gas, I think I'd have to buy a horse, because owning a car is getting to be too expensive! The last time I passed a station, prices were around $3.83!

That really hits you were it hurts.

Guess I won't be doing much this summer, again.

Ups and Downs

~ I'm one step closer to getting my grandmother's house out of my life. The process of the deed transfer has begun. Yay!

~ Dad woke up with a broken blood vessel in his eye. He looks awful.

~ Could someone tell me why I'm exhausted just from grocery shopping and a dental appointment? I can't stay awake past 9 o'clock most nights. I think I'm getting old.

~ Won't be going to see Gordon Lightfoot as all the good seats are already sold out. Thank you Palace Theater for letting me know when they went on sale.

~ Doubt I'll get to see Celtic Thunder too...can't commit to concerts in December, especially ones in Pittsburgh.

~ Have I mentioned my need for a mental health day?

Not Just An Animal

Yesterday, brave K-9 officer Rocco,  crossed the rainbow bridge. He was stabbed by a low life who was resisting arrest on several counts, one was not registering as a sex offender.

Nice guy, huh?

There are a lot of calls for the guy who did this to be tried for murder. I'm one of them. To those that say, he was just a dog, I say...that is not the case. If that is so, we are just humans, and a miserable excuse for a species, we are.

These service animals protect and serve as well as their human counterparts.

And there are other service animals too. Are they just animals?

I don't think so.

Are your pets, just animals?

No way.

My brood are family and friends. They are like my children. When they hurt, I hurt. I rejoice in their love and their happiness.

They are not just animals.

I didn't know Rocco, but I cried myself to sleep last night over this dog that fought the good fight, to protect his handler, to stay alive. It is a shame, that God called him home. And yes, I do believe, "All dogs go to heaven..." so do cats and any of God's creatures.

But Rocco wasn't the only famous furry friend that crossed the Rainbow Bridge recently. Internet sensation Colonel Meow also took that walk.

Anyone that has ever had an animal knows they are not and will never be, JUST AN ANIMAL.

Sleep well, furry friends....and know that you were all well loved.